Sarah’s baby wants to feed for 5 minutes every half hour and still isn’t happy. He’s grizzly and unsatisfied and Sarah is at the end of her tether. Sarah’s mum is going on about a strict 3-hourly feeds but her baby’s got other ideas.
The term “demand feeding” can sound very negative can’t it? As though your baby is a wee tyrant ruling the roost! Personally, I prefer the label cue feeding which is a more positive interpretation of watching and responding to your baby’s hunger cues. Cue feeding is also more appropriate from a physiological perspective, than trying to force your baby into any strict feeding schedule, whatever time limits you try and impose.
Making Milk
Your baby’s sucking at your breast stimulates milk production: the more your baby sucks, the more milk your breasts will make. Strict feeding schedules are also inappropriate because women have different milk storage capacities. This isn’t something to worry about but it means that although you will make enough milk for your baby, you may have to feed more often – rather like drinking the same amount from a small glass or a large one!
How Often Should You Feed?
After birth your baby’s stomach is only the size of a marble and about 10 days later is only the size of his tiny fist (or a golf ball). Also, breast-milk is very quickly and easily digested so your baby will need frequent feeds, at least in the early weeks. It is perfectly normal for a breastfed baby to need 8 to 12 feeds in 24 hours in the first few weeks. This could mean that he will feed as often as every two hours and that means two hours from the beginning of one feed to the beginning of the next, not two hours between feeds.
Hungry or Thirsty?
Whether he wants to feed because he is hungry or simply thirsty, your baby will be able to regulate the type of milk he needs, if you allow him to set the pace. The composition of breast milk changes throughout the course of a feeding. The first (fore) milk, is rather like skim milk. This will quench babies’ thirst, which is why they often have very short, frequent feeds on hot days (if you feed your baby according to his needs, he won’t need bottles of water).
As the feeding progresses, the fat content increases and more closely resembles whole milk. Hunger will be satisfied by longer sucking periods when baby gets the fatty, hind milk (like a rich, creamy desert) that is squeezed down into your ducts by the let down reflex.
Managing Feeding Binges
In Sarah’s case, the pressure of her mother’s advice could be inhibiting her letdown reflex so her baby is grizzling and unsatisfied after feeding (perhaps she could go into another room and feed away from distractions); he could be falling asleep at the breast before he has taken a full feed (this can be remedied by changing baby half way though to help him wake and finish his feed). He may feeding more frequently because of hot weather, a growth spurt or he may be coming down with something (and need a boost of antibodies). Also, some babies with reflux or tummy pains find sucking helps them settle or conversely, feeding can create discomfort so they tend to feed little and often.
Although Sarah is having a difficult time right now, by responding to her baby’s hunger cues, he will quickly settle down into a more predictable rhythm again. And, if he doesn’t, it would be worth looking into other reasons why her baby is snacking rather than trying to force him onto a strict feeding schedule.
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and a Certified Infant Massage Instructor, Pinky McKay is a Melbourne based writer and editor specialising in health, education and family issues.
She also works ‘hands on’ with parents, teaching infant massage and solving breastfeeding problems, with many clients being referred to her by health professionals such as GPs and MCH nurses. For her free report ’10 things you must know about breastfeeding before you have your baby’ visit PinkyMcKay.com.au
Need more help?
Grab Pink McKay’s Breastfeeding Simply, a instantly downloadable ebook, to help you make breastfeeding easy, enjoyable and successful. Here are a few of the topics covered:
- Prepare for breastfeeding before baby arrives
- Comfortable positions to hold baby while nursing
- How to latch baby to breast
- Establish and maintain milk supply
- How to express, store and thaw breastmilk
- Recognize and treat conditions causing painful breastfeeding
- Alcohol effects on your breastmilk and baby
- Weaning baby gently and gradually
“I know the absolute joy and pride a mother can feel knowing that she is meeting all of her baby’s needs. It is the most amazing and wonderful feeling ever, to hold your sweet smelling baby close to your heart, knowing you are giving him or her the very best food and that this food comes from your heart, through your breasts, to nourish your precious baby.”
-Pinky McKay
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#1 Nice to meet you!
Thank you for this article. As a breastfeeding mother, it makes a good read and encourages me as I try to set a feeding schedule for my baby. So far nothing has worked and like Sarah,I find myself breastfeeding my baby almost all the time.